Birchbox May 2014 Review (!)

I have triumphantly returned to my reviews! I got the may box with a promo for old subscribers and I decided to re-sub because I just NEEDED to and that's why this May review is in June and pretty close to the June review. Who cares though because here's the review! Whoo!

Note: I'm using my crappy 4th gen ipod for the pics (my new one is currently indisposed) so the pics might suck hard. I'll try to rectify this asap.

First impression.

Inserts: Coola and Kate Spade Saturday

A slightly better look at this month's samples.

Caudalie Polyphenol C15 Overnight Detox Oil (Full size retail $65)

Birchbox tends to get a bit of a reputation of sending super small samples and at first glance, this sample is fucking minute. However (HOWEVER!!), this is an upmarket brand and as such, giving too much away would kind of defeat the purpose of sampling and then buying. Seeing as I have a freaking veritable oil slick of a face (and I know, I know oil can be good oily skin but I haaaaate the feeling of oil on my skin), I’m not particularly interested and then another issue arises, this detox oil is better for a certain age range of skin which I’m not yet part of. On the other hand, my mom loves shit like this so she is the lucky duck who got this sample. According to her, it smells and feels good so even though this sample was a bust for me, I got to gift it to my mommy! 7/10 for me 10/10 for mom

Coola Environmental Repair Plus Radical Recovery After-Sun Lotion (Full size retail $32)

I like the Coola brand and birchbox does tend to send out Coola items fairly often. However, this specific sample is an interesting one because it isn’t just your typical sunscreen sample (of which I've been sent a zillion), it’s an after-sun lotion. Fortunately, this really came in handy for me today as I got an involuntary sunburn on my arm after being stuck in what can only be described as infernal traffic summoned by el chicuco (aka the devil) himself. It has a really pleasant almost herbal scent, it isn’t oily at all (yes!) and absorbs quickly. I have to admit the truth: I'm quite happy to have gotten this sample (deluxe sample size btw) in the may box. Great placement for the summer and I didn’t expect to like it but, having tried it, I love it. This is gonna definitely be a full size purchase. Try it peeps, you won’t be disappointed. If you are, remember I love you and you should hate Coola and not your bff Leslie. 10/10!

Pixi Shea Butter Lip Balm in Coral Crush (Full size retail $8.00)

Full freakin SIZE!! I had to lead this review like this because yes!!! I love getting a full size surprise and anything for lips is my jam. Coral Crush is a great color and quite universal so it can be worn with a variety of skin tones and it looks fucking magnificent on me. Plus, it’s a Shea Butter lip balm and my perpetually dry lips (despite the frequent and liberal application of baby lips which so far isn’t giving me anything but baby butt rash lips) are already feeling better. The feel isn’t heavy and the color gives a sheer but buildable color that I’m in love with. I’ve never really been a Pixi brand fan but this lip balm got me. I’m gonna look for other colors at target because I’m in love. Favorite item in this month’s birchbox, hands down. 11/10

Smashbox Photo Finish Foundation Primer (Full size retail $36)

Sooo, I have already gotten many of these in other sample boxes and in VIB Rouge promotions from Sephora but another can’t hurt. I’ve found that it is highly recommended but most makeup peeps I’ve talked to but I personally found that this version isn’t great for oily skin and actually the oily skin version broke me out so make yeah. Sample size is deluxe and enough for a more than a couple of applications since you don’t need too much to prime your face in the first place. I need to find a new primer since none of the ones I’ve found can even compare to awesomeness of Benefit’s Porefessional but since I currently can’t afford it, I’m kinda SOL. Overall, legit brand and generally recommended and since no one has the same skin issues, you might find it's perfect for you. 8/10

Lifestyle Extra: All-in-One Fiber Gummies for Weight Management ($47.95 for a 30 day supply)

First reaction upon reading the product card: W. T. F.

ANYTHING referring to weight management is not really the kind of thing that I want to get in my birchbox. Fortunately, the actual vitamin packaging doesn’t refer to instant weight loss (big ass red flag if it did) or really anything related. Since it’s touted as a lifestyle extra, I decided to go ahead and reticently try the 2 gummies that came in the sample (should’ve been like 6 if they really wanted people to get used to them) and although I was prepared to hate them with the fiery hate of a million suns, the gummies are actually really tasty. However, there is no way in helll that I would pay nearly $50 for a month’s supply. Target has gummies for something like $14 and if vitamin gummies are just your holy grail of gummy perfection, then I recommend trying either one (depending on the depth of your wallet; mine is as shallow and empty as a Kardashian brain). So, overall, yummy but way too overpriced for me. 7/10

Another extra*: Birchbox Aces Makeup bag/Zipper Pouch

• I actually got this in a separate package a few weeks ago.

So, it turns out that I have reached Ace status. I don’t even know how but getting this pochette was a great surprise. The Birchbox pink detailing on the zipper, zipper pull and on the label is really cute against the beige background. This didn’t come in May’s birchbox and is only for Aces apparently but I love it and it made me feel kinda fancy which hasn’t happened in a long while seeing as I’m still broke as a joke. 20/10

Birchbox Aces Bag/Pochette

Card that sort of explains why I got the bag.

Overall:

I’m so so soooo glad to be back with birchbox!!!! I feel like got a pretty great box for my comeback and I was honestly super cautious as to what I would get (like 46 perfume samples or something I hated) but was pleasantly surprised (except for the gummies, DON’T ever send me overpriced gummies again!!!!) There were also a couple of offers inside the box, one was an sun protection info card from Coola that also announces a $1200 in products giveaway and the other was a $25 of a $75.00 purchase coupon at Kate Spade Saturday (omg do I love Kate Spade).

Finally, I'm now infatuated with the Pixi Shea Butter Lip Balm (ffs I just cannot get enough lip products) and getting that monthly surprise (the good kind not the other painful kind) still feels great to me. 9/10

Box: Birchbox

Price: $10 per month or $120 per year.

Perks: Ability to earn points (you get 10 for review each item you get in your monthly birchbox as well as earn them when you buy something in the store) which can be converted to 100 pts= $10 200 pts= $20 and so on (I haven’t had the self control to get past $30 because I always find need NEED some product in my life).

Promo Codes: Try promo code: bb100 for 100 pts if you subscribe aka $10 bucks to spend after you pay $10 bucks for the box. If you plan to shop Birchbox like a mofo, then you get your first box essentially free. I’m not 100% sure it’ll work but it can't hurt to give it a try.

Recommend?

Yes!!!!!! It was hard to live without my beloved Birchbox and I just really love the fact that they send fancier (for lack of a better word) samples than other similarly priced boxes (but I still love those other boxes too jsyk!) and getting a full sized item on my first box back was magnificent and enough to keep me on the birchbox train for another month.